Secret Tips For Cruise Drinks: Save Money And Drink Where You Want
8. Open Containers Are Allowed on Cruises: Unlike many destinations on dry land, there’s no open container ban onboard cruise ships. You’re free to roam around the ship with any beverage from any venue. Its perfectly normal to walk into the dining room carrying your pre-dinner cocktail or to take your unfinished glass of wine from the dinner table to the theater for the evenings show.
9. Keep Your Unfinished Dinner Wine for Another Night: It’s often cheaper to buy a bottle of wine than a few glasses at dinner — but what do you do if you don’t finish the bottle? Cruise ship waiters can mark the bottle with your room number and save it for another night, or even for dinner in another onboard venue.
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10. Buckets of Beer Save You Cash:Beer drinkers can save on their cruise drink of choice by ordering buckets of beer. Holland Americas bucket of five 12-ounce Coronas is 25% cheaper than buying bottles individually. Oh, and nobody ever said you have to drink those five beers all at once or at the location where you purchased it. Feel free to take your bucket of beer anywhere, including back to your balcony to drink at your leisure.
12. Bring Your Own Water Bottle: You arent locked into buying bottled water, whether for drinking onboard or carrying with you on excursions. All water on a cruise ship is drinkable.
Alaska Cruise Costs :
- Pre-cruise purchases : $1442.95
- Purchases in port: $153
- Onboard purchases: $19
Total cost of my Alaska cruise: $1614.95
Looking back, I probably could have booked a more expensive cruise fare on a newer ship from Seattle and still saved money due to cheaper flights and other transportation expenses.
If youre truly looking to save the most amount of money possible, definitely research flight costs and shuttles before booking an Alaska cruise!
I had no idea a shuttle would cost $80 one-way to reach Anchorage from Seward, for example, and this could easily get way more expensive when cruising with a large family.
That being said, I definitely saved hundreds of dollars by not booking excursions and instead choosing to explore ports freely on my own. I didnt feel we missed out on anything by not booking excursions.
However, Ive already been to Alaska and will cruise to Alaska again in the future. If youre only going to visit Alaska once, Id book at least 1-2 excursions, such as whale watching and the White Pass & Yukon Railroad train, in order to make the most out of Alaskas attractions.
I was happy to end the cruise in southcentral Alaska as it allowed me to explore Anchorage .
In the end, I made some amazing memories with my friend Reeham and we were able to explore four unique Alaska cruise ports and discover more of Alaskas culture, cuisine, and nature.
Is Celebrity Cruises Sailing In March 2021
As we work closely with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and government authorities around the world toward this shared goal, we are extending the suspension of all sailings departing between Marchl 30, 2021 along with the Apex Transatlantic sailing of 5/1/21 and the 2021 Europe Season for Edge
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Celebrity Brand’s Cruising Experience
- Accommodations: some of the largest cruise suites . Luxurious “ConciergeClass” staterooms, attentive highly personalized impeccable service and enjoying seating preference, priority check-in. 2:1 guest-to-staff ratio
- Dining: award-winning cuisine, excellent alternate dining venues. Celebrity’s “Gourmet Bites” every afternoon, themed lunch buffets. Culinary demonstrations. The line has partnered with “Elizabeth Blau and Associates”, as to menu and wine selections, and all the standards of serving.
- Facilities: the largest cruise ship spa and gym facilities at sea . “Celebrity Theatre” for Broadway-style productions, huge European-style casinos, bingo, themed bars, and lounges, including a discoclub, large pools, poolside recreation programs , onboard boutique shopping.
- Enrichment: “Celebrity Lecture Series”. Rich contemporary art collections. Art auctions, and enhanced golf program.
- “Celebrity Escape” concept offers complimentary classes, workshops, themed events, fashion shows, deck parties, etc.
Since 2013, the company has been partnered with “Top Chef” . In late 2014, both companies started the exclusive “Top Chef at Sea” cruising experience. By this onboard culinary program, fans and foodies have the opportunity to travel with a lineup of celebrity chefs on food-themed “Top Chef Signature Sailing” each year. Celebrity also offers an interactive “Quickfire Challenges” and “Top Chef”-inspired menu evenings fleetwide on cruises 5-nights or longer .
Last Sea Day & Disembarkation
The last full day of our Alaska cruise was supposed to include a visit to Hubbard Glacier, but unfortunately we were unable to approach the glacier due to low visibility.
Bad weather was the theme of the day, and we encountered the roughest waters Ive experienced yet on a cruise. I spent most of the day feeling seasick and laying in bed, which was definitely not fun!
As evening approached, however, Reeham and I began to feel better and were able to enjoy our last night onboard before disembarking the next morning in Seward.
We arrived in Seward early on disembarkation day and took a 3 hour shuttle bus to downtown Anchorage. We still had ten hours before our flight once we arrived in Anchorage, so I was pleased to discover that the city has a complimentary building with luggage storage, tables and chairs, and a free airport shuttle available.
Soon enough, it was time to say goodbye to Alaskas beauty and return home.
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Flights & Shuttle Transfers
Because the cruise started in Vancouver and ended in Seward, I needed to purchase two one-way flights. Flying to Vancouver was $189 and flying from Anchorage was $347, bringing the total flight cost to $536.
Flying roundtrip from my house to either Seattle or Vancouver usually costs between $200 and $300 total, so the one-way flights were definitely more expensive, especially the one from Anchorage, adding a significant amount to the total cost of the cruise.
Additionally, because the cruise ended in Seward, I needed to purchase a shuttle bus to Anchorage for $78.95. This was the cheaper option the train transfer was $124.95!
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Secret Tips For Cruise Dining: Where And How To Scarf Up The Best Food Onboard
1. Unlimited Main Dining Room Meals: There are literally no limits on what you can order from the main dining room menu. Its okay to go rogue and order only appetizers or three desserts. Oh, and its also okay to take your dessert to go if eating under the stars on the pool deck is your thing.
2. Cheap or Free Room Service:Room service on a ship is one of the small joys you’ll find on a cruise. Fancy a donut with your morning coffee before heading up to your real breakfast? Go for it, but pay attention to those room service menus. Some lines charge for certain room service menu items, others charge during peak dining times. However, no matter how you cut it, room service fees on cruises are far and away cheaper than at hotels and resorts on dry land.
3. Breakfast Options Are Often Numerous: You just might have more breakfast options on your than you think . Free breakfast at Johnny Rockets is one of Royal Caribbeans yummiest cruise secrets, though there are fees to eat here at other times of day. And free all-day breakfast at Big Chicken is a late sleepers best cruise secret on Carnival. Check your daily program or the cruise lines app to see which restaurants are open in the morning.
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Crossover Benefits On Royal Caribbean Sailings
Club members qualify for reciprocity with Celebritys Sister brand, Royal Caribbean International. The shared status allows club members to have access to comparable benefits when they sail on either Royal Caribbean or Celebrity Cruises.
Captains Club Members qualify for crossover benefits with Royal Caribbean Crown and Anchor Society through a reciprocity arrangement.
Celebrity Cruises Select Tier guests can receive Platinum level when they sail on Royal Caribbean. And, Elite Level guests receive Diamond status on Royal Caribbean cruises.
Its important to note that the top tiers on each loyalty program are not eligible for matching.
Although you will receive crossover membership benefits when you sail with Royal Caribbean, you will only accumulate points when sailing with Celebrity Cruises.
Therefore, to receive Diamond Plus or Pinnacle on Royal Caribbean, you must accumulate the appropriate Crown and Anchor Society points. Youll need to do the same if you want to earn Elite Plus or Zenith status through Celebrity Cruises Captains Club.
Finally, the lowest tiers, Gold on Royal Caribbean and Classic on Celebrity Cruises, do not receive any shared benefits.
What Special Pricing Is Available On A Royal Caribbean Cruise
Some qualifying rates apply for the following including a special third and/or fourth guest rate for anyone staying in the same stateroom with two full-fare paying guests will pay. So if you intend on having your children stay in your stateroom, their rate may be lower. Additional qualifying rates include:
- We offer reduced senior prices only on selected sailings exclusively for guests who are 55 years of age and older.
- We also offer special rates for police and firefighters on select ships and sailings.
- We do offer special rates on selected sailings for military personnel.
- It is important that at least one guest per stateroom be eligible to be considered in compliance with a restricted price program. It is also important to note that noncompliance of the restricted price program terms will result in the reservation being re-priced to the lowest available fare for that particular day. Furthermore, you will be responsible to pay for any differences immediately or else your boarding rights will be denied.
To qualify for a police/fire department rate, an individual must qualify under the following:
To qualify for a military rate, an individual must be classified as one of the following:
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The Elite Level That Makes A Difference
Being loyal to Celebrity really starts paying off when you reach the Elite and Elite Plus levels.
One of the great perks of Elite status is gaining access to the Captains Club Coffee Lounge, where you can enjoy a coffeehouse-style breakfast each morning. This is a particularly big deal on shore excursion days, as it means you have a relatively quiet and uncrowded place to grab a quick breakfast before heading out for a tour.
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Elites also get unlimited free drinks from the Captains Club menu each day between 5 and 7 p.m. at most bars and lounges across the ship. All you have to do is present your Sea Pass card. As noted above, this isnt quite the perk it used to be, since a basic drinks package is included with all bookings now as part of the lines new Always Included fare structure.
And if youre sailing on a Solstice Class or Millennium Class vessel, reaching the Elite tier will get you free access to the Persian Garden spa zones on the ships home to steam rooms, saunas and heated loungers on one port day of your choice.
Elite level also brings:
- 30% off internet package upgrades.
- 40% off a digital or print photo package.
- $200 off The Studio photo packages.
- 10% discount at the ships spa.
- 10% discount on a Premium Beverage Package upgrade .
- Complimentary dry cleaning for one item.
- One complimentary bag of laundry on every sailing.
- Access to a private lounge on departure day serving continental breakfast.
Additional Perks Of Celebrity Cruises Captains Club
All Celebrity Cruises Captains Club members receive additional perks on partner brands.
Courtesy of a partnership with Hertz Rental Car, Celebrity Cruises Captains Club members automatically receive 275 Hertz points after the first rental. Additionally, members receive weekly rental discounts, free upgrades, and other special offers.
Elite, Elite Plus, and Zenith members enjoy Hertz Gold Plus Rewards membership with 550 points.
Club members can take advantage of exclusive perks thanks to Celebritys partnership with MGM Resorts. Members are guaranteed the lowest room rates when booking direct when booking a stay at MGM Rewards Destinations.
Other MGM benefits include presale access to events and discounts on select shows. High-tier members may receive additional perks such as a priority check-in line, complimentary Self-Parking, etc.
Additionally, Captains Club members receive discounts through Celebrity Cruises Night Out. The program provides discounts for tickets to a wide variety of entertainment options in over 60 cities across the US.
Finally, Club Members can get up to 20% off any purchase from 1-800-FLOWERS and its family of brands, including Harry & David, Cheryls Cookies, Personalization Universe, and The Popcorn Factory.
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Celebrity Cruise Gratuities 2021
Since January 2020, the company’s daily gratuity rates were increased by ~7% .
- Standard cabins’ daily gratuity was changed from US$14,50 to US$15.50 pp .
- ConciergeClass and AquaClass staterooms’ daily gratuity was changed from US$15 to US$16 pp .
- Suites’ daily gratuity was changed from US$18 to US$19 pp .
Daily gratuity is an automatic service charge added to the passenger’s onboard account each day. Passengers can prepay gratuities. Daily gratuities are split between the ship’s staff .
In 2018, Celebrity’s daily gratuities were USD 13,50 , USD 14 and USD 17 .
Do I Have To Wait Until I Am Onboard To Pick My Restaurants
One of the biggest benefits of Celebrity Select Plus Dining is the ability to make dinner reservations at the four above mentioned restaurants pre-cruise. You do not need to wait until you are on the ship to decide when and where to eat each night of your cruise.
You can pre-book your reservations before the cruise or while onboard the ship using the Celebrity Cruises App. We booked all four restaurants ahead of time with no problems.
Keep in mind, if you have traditional dining, you will be assigned to one of these four restaurants for the duration of the cruise.
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Secret Tips For Cruise Rooms: Making The Best Of Any Cabin You Book
14. They’re Magnetic: Most cruise cabins are made of metal. Bring along some magnets and you can keep all your cocktail party invites, dining reservation notices, excursion tickets and daily planner printouts hung up on the walls and doors. And magnetic hooks are perfect for hanging swimwear, jackets, and hats. Look for hooks designed to hang barbecue utensils theyll usually hold more than 20 pounds.
15. Use Your TV as a Nightlight in Inside Cabins: Inside cabins often get no natural light. At all. Turn your TV to the bridge cam station, turn off the sound and — voila! — you’ve got an instant nightlight and a way to see if the sun is up.
16. Consider Saving on Spa Access by Booking a Spa Cabin: It can pay to do the math on spa cabins if you’re seeking a pampering, wellness escape on your cruise. For example, Carnival’s Cloud 9 Spa balcony cabins include access to the thalassotherapy pool, steam room and sauna, plus discounts on treatments and classes. The extra you’d pay for the cabin might be less than what you’d pay at the spa a la carte.
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17. Plan for Limited Electrical Outlets in Your Cruise Cabin: Most people find cruise ship outlets and USB ports to be insufficient for their gear. You can usually bring your own charging station or power strip — as long as they arent surge protectors .
Cruise Line Contact Information: Address Phone Number And Email
While there are plenty of resources for those of us with cruise questions resources such as travel agents, Cruise Critics editorial features and our message boards sometimes you just need to get in touch with your cruise line.
Here, we offer a roundup of dozens of mainstream, luxury and expedition cruise lines from all over the world, with key contact information including snail mail addresses, customer service phone numbers and email addresses. Weve listed information for river cruise lines here.
Address: Level 4, 1230 Nepean Highway, Cheltenham, Victoria 3192
Phone: 1300 336 932
Address: 1050 Caribbean Way, Miami, FL 33132
Phone: 833-292-2292
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Overview Of Celebrity Cruises Complaint Handling
111Celebrity Cruises reviews first appeared on Complaints Board on Apr 8, 2009.The latest review Unable to book a SAuite during initial booking then later being offered a Suite on a Celebrity ‘Move Up’ promotion. was posted on Nov 1, 2022.The latest complaint silhouette december 1-13, 2019 cruise – there are 5 parts to this… was resolved on Dec 20, 2019. Celebrity Cruises has an average consumer rating of 1 stars from 111 reviews.Celebrity Cruises has resolved 6 complaints.
Celebrity Cruises Captains Club Basics
As a Captains Club member, youll receive exclusive perks and benefits when you sail with Celebrity Cruises.
Like many loyalty programs, the perks at the lowest tiers arent all that valuable. But, as you climb the ranks, youll receive all kinds of incredible benefits.
At the very top, Zenith members receive one of the best rewards every avid cruiser dreams about a free cruise for two.
Its important to note that some of the Captains Club benefits have lost their appeal now that the cruise line has switched to an always included fare. The new pricing strategy consists of the Celebrity Cruises drink package and onboard internet with your base fare.
The discounts you receive as a Captains Club member still come in handy when upgrading to the premium drink package or wifi.
With the change to Always Included pricing, Celebrity elevated their member perks by offering better spa and photo benefits and adding even more onboard events for members.
Additionally, the cruise line is known for running some great promotions for club members. Recent Captains Club promotions include double points when booking a balcony cabin or higher. Members also receive exclusive sales not available to regular guests.
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